embers and claws

Chapter Two

Get up

He pulled me out of slumber. His voice low and commanding. it is infuriating, he didn't have to try hard to control me.

I dragged my palm down my face in frustration and heaved a sigh of exasperation.

A person definitely can't sleep in peace anymore

As I peeled the comforter off I heard a faint noise. For a moment I doubted myself, the person probably heard the rustle of the comforter hence the stillness.

I could not sense the person's presence, definitely he wasn't a part of our pack.

I proceeded with what I was doing after all I didn't want the person to meet me in a vulnerable position.

I smoothened out the comforter, packed my hair to the back of my head and stood by the window to watch the moon.

Again, it was late. I had slept for the whole day.

"Sala", I called out to her, but she didn't respond. I was alone.

I heaved a deep breath. My eyes lowered to keep my tears in check and blocked my emotions from my family.

I had given him more credit than he deserved.

I scoffed softly "you have nothing to say now?

"Right", a bitter smile pulled my lips

Air shifted as he struck out a hand to grab my neck.

I let him. His arm had strength that an average warrior would not have.

He squeezed tightly, and on the inside of his wrist was a tattooed signage of Blood moon pack. Alastair.

My shoulders trembled slightly, not of fear but of helplessness that consumed me.

Why was I suffering for something I hadn't done.

Why didn't he do it on my way home, why wait until now.

He was trying to kill me to hide his humiliation, and to punish my father for sending him a pregnant woman for a mate.

A cacophonic laugh poured out of my lips, but I refused to let my full eyes spill. My body sagged against that of the man behind me.

He had masked his scent, but I couldn't mistake his presence for another's.

His muscles grew taunt, and I knew that he could not tolerate another woman's body against his. Mathias, ever loyal. Alastair's Beta, he was the first man I made a friend out of.

He wasn't going to give up any chances of me surviving.

Well, he was here to kill me so he'll have to endure.

"Fight", Mathias deep voice murmured.

"Fight for me who could not say no to command", Mathias, he didn't want to live with the guilt. Why should he?

"You don't want to know why he wants to kill me", I threw a glance over my left shoulder

"I've been compelled not to",

"Not knowing is good", I sighed softly, I didn't trust Alastair not to get rid of his beta to hide his shame.

I threw my elbow toward his stomach and he gripped it, I threw his hand on my neck off, spin around, and with the other hand I pulled him close then threw him against the wall of my room.

He smirked with a proud look in his eyes "There. There she is",

There was no reason for me to endure all this.

He should have come himself to finish me.

I knew Mathias could not hold back, he had been compelled.

He approached me with killing intent, his stance changed and his eyes shun like the beginning of a new day; sunlight.

He moved, his unnatural speed a leverage he has against me. My own wolf continues to live in hibernation.

In a blur, he was behind me, before I could react his hand struck my back and I collided against the wall. His eyes they war, sentiment battled compulsion, but we both knew it was a lost battle.

For a second, a thought crossed my mind. May be I should let him end it all. So, I chose to lay there limb. My back aches from the push, but it was the ache consuming my sanity that dominated my body.

His eyes searched mine, he let his wolf recede; the part of him that could not resist command.

"Please", he begged, having seen through me.

Following that, he lifted me high, my legs dangled and slammed me down on the floor. A sharp pain radiated from my stomach as he kicked me. I curled up, and my hand instinctively clutch the skin of my tummy.

Mathias' face contorted, his jaw clenched in concoction of the emotions unraveling him. I was ready to die by his hands, but he was not willing.

"You wish to die", It was a statement.

His large palm struck me across the face , my head spin, ears ring and lips split open.

I did know if it was from compulsion or anger at my refusal to fight back.

"Marie is carrying our pup", he muttered, he didn't have to complete the sentence. I understood.

My head snapped to look in his direction. His mate was pregnant with their first child, their gift; a profound source of happiness and Alastair had used that against him.

"Let me with complete joy of having a child", He pleaded

He didn't want his child to arrive with him not being completely happy to have him; riddled with guilt.

Get up

I turned a deaf ear to it, my head lulled to the side, my exhaustion not of physical one.

Alastair sank lower than I expected. For him his pride was important than the life of his beta's mate.

Then it crawled from the tip of my finger, I felt the hotness as it raced towards my heart. Compulsion, strength and adrenaline. It clutched my heart hard, and made me breathless.

Now, he even refused to let me die. I fought, struggled but I was not his match. Never was.

His fire had quenched my apathy to live

But I didn't need him to do that, I did not want to repay those who had made me happy with unhappiness. Having a child was a blessing, and Mathias and Marie were due for it.

I could not continue to watch him like this, struggling with himself.

What about ours

This was an acknowledgement of the child I didn't want to believe existed.

I didn't think twice. A curse.

Again, he retreated

As Mathias made to kick me again where the pain hadn't receded, I pulled his legs from underneath him. He stumbled, but was quick to catch himself. He launched another attack but he was met by a punch to the eyes and quick jabs to his ribs.

He moved back, giving space to study me; my weakness.

His finger wiped at the corner of his lips in thought.

But I wasn't going to let him thinking, thinking was dangerous. As I moved close to me he retreated, not because of fear, he was luring me into his own safe space.

I shook my head then retreated, but he would not let me.

His claws elongated: shirt, but sharp. He whipped the claws of his right hand at my face while I dodged he swiped the middle claw of his left hand at my neck. His claws was a few centimeters away from my neck when I gripped his wrist, I flicked my hand and with a sickening sound his wrist snapped.

He wasn't going to give up, he was on a mission, one he has been compelled to complete.

His left leg kicked at my right and my tibia discontinued from the ball and socket joint.

I riled my head back and struck him heavily on his nose. Bright red blood dripped and the sight of his crooked nose was an evidence of its breakage.

He pulled away wiping the blood from his nose with the short sleeve of his T-shirt. I could his wound heal at a fast rate unlike mine that is painstakingly slow.

Soon, he would notice too.

His lashes fluttered as he looked down in thought before his lips pulled into a knowing smirk. He looked up at me and his left brow raised in a sardonic manner.

He was mocking me. He didn't speak, but I knew he meant "your secret is out".

Then we heard it, a faint sound of twig snapping.

I tilted my head to the left. What will it be, stay and get caught, or go home to your mate.

His eyes hardened, but his jaw relaxed.

He turned to leave and as he placed his hand on the door knob, he paused to look over his shoulder "He sent another, someone to break the news to your father",

"A lycan guest arrived just in time", I had to find him an excuse for failing his mission. My voice devoid of emotions.

He opened the door and like breeze he was gone.

My knees weakened.

I had thought he wanted to hide this. I was wrong.

Since he could not kill me he wanted me to live with this humiliation for the rest of my life.

My lips quivered. My father, Alexie, the whole pack. He wanted my father to take action, Alastair want to force my father's hands.

My chest heaved rapidly, my nose tingled and a scream sear through my throat; agonizing and raging, unlike the fragility that wracked my body soft.